Rugged, waterproof, navigation device with touch panel

ABSTRACT

Systems, devices and methods are provided which include a rugged, waterproof, navigation device having a touch panel. The device includes a portable, and/or handheld navigation device. The navigation device includes a processor and a memory adapted to communicate with the processor. The memory is adapted to store navigation related data, the navigation related data including cartographic data including a number of locations and data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types connecting certain ones of the locations. The device includes a housing having an opening. A touch panel is mounted in the opening of the housing. The touch panel and housing forming a substantially waterproof enclosure. A navigation component is located within the substantially waterproof enclosure.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation and claims priority benefit,with regard to all common subject matter, of an earlier-filed U.S.patent application entitled “Rugged, Waterproof, Navigation Device withTouch Panel”, Ser. No. 10/186,155, filed Jun. 28, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No.6,751,552.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to navigational devices, and inparticular to navigational devices which are both waterproofed andruggedized.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A natural progression in devices is to build more function or even tocombine more functions into one device. In the past ten years, forexample, mobile communications, personal data assistants, and portablenavigational devices have become very popular. These devices have movedfrom desktop computers to hand-held devices. Personal data assistants(“PDA”) are also exceedingly popular. The first PDA-type devices merelyheld a listing of contacts and may have had a calendar function. NowPDAs, in addition to holding contact data and a calendar, hold e-mail.PDAs have now been provided with the capability to respond to e-mail andare linked or synchronized with a computer periodically so any e-mailanswers can be ported over to a computer for sending. Calendar changesare also synchronized.

Navigational devices represent yet another technology that has boomed asof late and which is now becoming popular and affordable. Previously,navigational devices were expensive and far from portable or hand-held.Most navigational devices could only be found on ships and airplanes.Now, navigational devices are popular options in luxury cars andnavigational devices have become popular with outdoors people of alltypes. Fisherman have them to mark out their favorite fishing holes, forexample. These devices have also been combined with other devices, suchas depth finders or fish finders which are popular with anglers.

Recently, PDAs and navigational devices, such as global positioningsystems (“GPS”), have been combined. There are problems with suchcombined devices. For example, current combination devices which includea PDA and a GPS are confusing to use. One of the more confusing aspectsis switching between the software applications needed for the GPS andthe software applications needed for the PDA.

When navigational devices or PDAs were first introduced, problemsassociated with using these device outdoors were generally notcontemplated. The cost and size of the navigational device all butprohibited one from using the navigational device outdoors. PDAs weregenerally used in office environments. Escaping to the outdoorsgenerally meant leaving your PDA inside. Such devices were notwaterproofed and not ruggedized.

The size reduction and lesser cost of the navigational devices and thecombination navigational devices and PDAs now make outdoor use morecommon. As a result, the device must be ruggedized to accommodateoutdoor use. The navigational device must be made waterproof as well asdrop-resistant so that the device can withstand the rigors associatedwith such use. A device that combines uses, such as a combination PDAand navigational device, must also be made waterproof anddrop-resistant. Making these devices waterproof and drop-resistant alsois necessary as many users do not exercise care when handling suchdevices. It seems that as the cost goes down, so does the amount of careone uses in handling a device. Making such a device waterproof anddrop-resistant will lessen the number of returns from users in thefield. In addition, more rugged devices generally will have a marketadvantage. A consumer is more likely to pay a premium for a rugged, moredependable device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above mentioned problems of navigational devices are addressed bythe present invention and will be understood by reading and studying thefollowing specification. Apparatus, systems and methods are provided forportable navigation devices which incorporate triangulation positioningfunctionality with a dead reckoning positioning functionality such thatthe device can continue to provide navigation related services in “urbancanyons” or indoors. Further, in some embodiments, the apparatus,systems and methods integrate triangulation positioning functionalitywith other handheld device functionality, e.g. cell phone and/or PDAfunctionality, in a manner which is not cumbersome to handle or to use.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a portable, and/or hand-heldnavigation device is provided. The navigation device includes aprocessor and a memory adapted to communicate with the processor. Thememory is adapted to store navigation related data, the navigationrelated data including cartographic data including a number of locationsand data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types connectingcertain ones of the locations. The device includes a housing having anopening. A touch panel is mounted in the opening of the housing. Thetouch panel and housing forming a substantially waterproof enclosure. Anavigation component is located within the substantially waterproofenclosure. The electronic device may also be multi-functional and, insome embodiments, includes cell phone or PDA capabilities.

A typical touch panel, in a band-held electronic device, has a rigidmaterial layer and a flexible layer. The rigid material layer andflexible material layer are held together in spaced relation by a gasketof double adhesive tape. A major surface of the rigid material and amajor surface of the flexible material are provided with an electricallyconductive film so that when the flexible material is deflected to touchthe rigid material a closed circuit indicating the location of thecontact is formed.

In the invention, a mounting member circumscribes the opening in thehousing. The mounting member has a pocket for holding an adhesive. Theadhesive is applied about the periphery of the touch panel. In oneembodiment the adhesive is a flexible adhesive. In other embodiments theadhesive is rigid. Either adhesive may be curable using an ultravioletlight. In some embodiments, the hand-held electronic device is providedwith a shock absorbing member, such as a layer foam or otherviscoelastic material. In still other embodiments, the device includes abacking member that fits within the housing. The backing member has aportion positioned near the layer of rigid material of the touch panel.The shock absorbing member includes a portion which is sandwichedbetween the backing member and the layer of rigid material of the touchpanel. In some embodiments, the shock absorbing member also includes aportion which is sandwiched between the flexible member of the touchpanel and the mounting member. The mounting member is molded with orintegral with the housing. In still other embodiments, a fluid seal isalso provided. The fluid seal can include a gasket.

Advantageously, the invention provides for a device which can now beused outdoors. Even though all uses will not be outdoors, all users willbenefit by having a more dependable, rugged device. The navigationaldevice is waterproof. The touch panel and more specifically, the rigidportion of the touch panel, typically made of glass or plastic is moredrop-resistant so that the device can withstand the rigors associatedwith outdoor use. Since the devices are waterproof and drop-resistant,the consumer market will perceive the device as more rugged and reliableand consumers will be more likely to pay a premium for the device. Thenumber of returns from users in the field will also be less since thedevice is waterproof and drop-resistant.

These and other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and features of thepresent invention will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art byreference to the following description of the invention and referenceddrawings or by practice of the invention. The aspects, advantages, andfeatures of the invention are realized and attained by means of theinstrumentalities, procedures, and combinations particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representative view of a Global Positioning System (GPS);

FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a hand-held,electronic device that includes a navigation component;

FIG. 2B illustrates a end of the embodiment of a hand-held, electronicdevice shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a hand-held,electronic device shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2D illustrates a isometric view of an embodiment of a hand-held,electronic device shown in FIGS. 2A-2C;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section view along line 3—3 in FIG. 2 of thehand-held, electronic device;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section view along line 44 in FIG. 2 of thehand-held, electronic device;

FIG. 5 is a front cut away view of the hand-held, electronic deviceshown in FIGS. 2-4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the touch panel of thehand-held, electronic device;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the housing near theopening which details an embodiment for mounting the touch panel withrespect to the housing of the hand-held, electronic device;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the housing near theopening which details another embodiment for mounting the touch panelwith respect to the housing of the hand-held, electronic device;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the housing near theopening which details yet another embodiment for mounting the touchpanel with respect to the housing of the hand-held, electronic device;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the housing near theopening which details yet another embodiment for mounting the touchpanel with respect to the housing of the hand-held, electronic deviceaccording to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of one embodiment for the electroniccomponents within the hardware of FIGS. 2A-2D according to the teachingsof the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of another embodiment for the electroniccomponents within the hardware of FIGS. 2A-2D according to the teachingsof the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a navigation system according to theteachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in whichis shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which theinvention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describeaspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled inthe art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized andchanges can be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to betaken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention isdefined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

The following description and figures use a reference numeral conventionwhere the first digit of the reference numeral corresponds to the figureand the following two digits correspond to like elements throughout thespecification. For example, the housing of a portable, hand-held,electronic device of the present invention has a reference number of212, 312, 412, 512 etc., corresponding to the housing X12 in FIGS. 2, 3,4, 5, etc. where X is the number of the figure in which the referencenumeral appears.

One type of navigational system includes Global Positioning Systems(GPS). Such systems are known and have a variety of uses. In general,GPS is a satellite-based radio navigation system capable of determiningcontinuous position, velocity, time, and in some embodiments, directioninformation for an unlimited number of users. Formally known as NAVSTAR,the GPS incorporates a plurality of satellites which orbit the earth inextremely precise orbits. Based on these precise orbits, GPS satellitescan relay their location to any number of receiving units.

The GPS system is implemented when a device specially equipped toreceive GPS data begins scanning radio frequencies for GPS satellitesignals. Upon receiving a radio signal from a GPS satellite, the devicecan determine the precise location of that satellite via one ofdifferent conventional methods. The device will continue scanning forsignals until it has acquired at least three different satellitesignals. Implementing geometrical triangulation, the receiver utilizesthe three known positions to determine its own two-dimensional positionrelative to the satellites. Additionally, acquiring a fourth satellitesignal will allow the receiving device to calculate itsthree-dimensional position by the same geometrical calculation. Thepositioning and velocity data can be updated in real time on acontinuous basis by an unlimited number of users.

In fact, although GPS enabled devices are often used to describenavigational devices, it will be readily appreciated that satellitesneed not be used at all to determine a geographic position of areceiving unit, since cellular towers or any customized transmittingradio frequency towers can be deployed and combined in groups of threeor more. With such a configuration, any standard geometric triangulationalgorithm can be used to determine the exact location of the receivingunit. In this way, personal band-held devices, cell phones, intelligentappliances, intelligent apparel, and others can be readily locatedgeographically, if appropriately equipped to be a receiving unit.

FIG. 1 shows one representative view of a GPS denoted generally byreference numeral 100. A plurality of satellites 120 are in orbit aboutthe Earth 124. The orbit of each satellite 120 is not necessarilysynchronous with the orbits of other satellites 120 and, in fact, islikely asynchronous. A device that includes a GPS receiver 140 of thepresent invention is shown receiving spread spectrum GPS satellitesignals 160 from the various satellites 120.

The spread spectrum signals 160 continuously transmitted from eachsatellite 120 utilize a highly accurate frequency standard accomplishedwith an extremely accurate atomic clock. Each satellite 120, as part ofits data signal transmission 160, transmits a data stream indicative ofthat particular satellite 120. It will be appreciated by those skilledin the relevant art that the Device that includes a GPS receiver 140must acquire spread spectrum GPS satellite signals 160 from at leastthree satellites 120 for the Device that includes a GPS receiver 140 tocalculate its two-dimensional position by triangulation. Acquisition ofan additional signal 160, resulting in signals 160 from a total of foursatellites 120, permits Device that includes a GPS receiver 140 tocalculate its three-dimensional position.

Of course as previously presented and as is readily appreciated by thoseskilled in the art, GPS satellites and GPS receiving devices are notrequired by the tenets of the present invention, since any receivingdevice capable or receiving the location from at least threetransmitting locations can perform basic triangulation calculations todetermine the relative position of the receiving device with respect tothe transmitting locations.

For example, at least three cellular towers can each transmit theirlocation information to a receiving cellular phone, or any otherreceiving device, and if the phones or devices are equipped to performthe triangulation algorithm, then the location of the cellular phone ordevice can be readily resolved. By further way of example, an amusementpark or entertainment facility can deploy three or more transmittingradio frequency devices and provide users with receiving units capableof performing a triangulation algorithm to determine the receiving unitslocation within the amusement park or entertainment facility. In thisway, it is readily apparent that a receiving unit need not beexclusively GPS enabled to benefit from the teachings of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of an electronic navigational device210 according to the teachings of the present invention. FIG. 2Aillustrates the top surface of the navigational device 210. In someembodiments, the navigational device 210 shown in FIG. 2A can includeother functions, such as a personal digital assistant (“PDA”) computingcapability or cellular transceiver. The GPS navigational device 210operates with an operating system (“OS”) such as, for example, thewell-known Palm or Pocket PC operating systems, the lesser-used Linux OSor a proprietary OS. The hand-held, electronic, navigational device 210includes a housing 212 having an opening 214 therein. Within the housing212 is a GPS patch antenna 216 (which is shown in phantom in FIG. 2A).In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the antenna includes a patch antennalocated on a top portion of the display. The housing 212 is generallyrectangular with a low profile and has a display 200 viewable throughthe opening 214. A touch panel 220 is positioned within the opening 214.The touch panel 220 is transparent. The touch panel 220 is mountedwithin the opening and the display 200 is viewable through the touchpanel 220 and the opening 214. The touch panel 220 is touch sensitiveand can be responsive to a user's digit or a stylus. It should be notedthat the display 200 is not limited to any particular type of display.The housing 212 has a first end 222 and a second end 224. Thenavigational device 210 includes a number of control buttons, or inputkeys 228 positioned toward one edge or end 224. The invention, however,is not so limited by the position of the control buttons 228. It shouldbe noted that the input keys 228 can be positioned toward another edgeor at any other suitable location on the housing 212. The housing mayhave various slots, jack openings, and could be provided with cards forvarious purposes. The openings or slots provided are assembled withinthe housing so as to eliminate potential leakage paths. On another edgeor end 225 of the housing 212 there is an infrared data port 235(“IRDA”). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the IRDA is positionedwithin a molded opening in the housing 212 and covered with a data portcover 236.

Also attached to the exterior of the housing 212 is a molded plate 230.The plate 230 includes an inclined surface 232 which engages acorresponding slot of a receptacle (not shown). The receptacle may beattached to the dashboard of a vehicle. The plate 230 slips within acorresponding slot of the receptacle to temporarily mount the housing212 to the dashboard. The circular shape of the plate 230 allows theuser to turn the device 210 to any desired position so that the user canmore easily view the display 200, reach the control buttons 228, oractuate the touch panel 220. The receptacle engages the plate 230 withsufficient force to retain the hand-held, electronic device 210 inposition during operation of the vehicle. In other words, the receptaclewill hold the hand-held, electronic device 210 as the vehicle vibratesduring normal operation or encounter bumps. The user can remove thehand-held, electronic device 210 when the vehicle is not in use. Thislessens the potential that thieves may break into the vehicle to stealthe hand-held, electronic device 210. Furthermore, in some embodiments,the hand-held, electronic device 210 is operable when hand-held so thatthe user may use the hand-held, electronic device 210 in another vehicleor while outdoors in a rural or in an urban area. Some embodiments ofthe device 210 include batteries.

It should be understood that the structure shown is of a navigationalunit having a GPS. Other physical features and functionality, such as acellular telephone, or a PDA, could be included with the GPSnavigational device and are contemplated as within the scope of thisinvention.

FIG. 2B illustrates an end of the embodiment of a hand-held, electronicdevice 210 shown in FIG. 2A. The housing 212 includes a first half 211and a second half 213. The opening 214 for the display 200 is in thesecond half 213 of the housing 212. The touch panel 220 is mountedwithin the opening 214. The first half 211 and the second half 213 aresealed with respect to one another. Also shown in FIG. 2B is a sealedtwo position power switch 240 in the first half 211 of the housing 212.The power switch 240 is sealed so that moisture on the exterior surfaceof the housing 212 does not leak into the interior of the housing. Theopening associated with the power switch is molded within the housing212 and specifically within the first half 211 of the housing 212 toprevent a leakage path from the exterior to the interior of the housing.

FIG. 2C illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a hand-held,electronic device 210 shown in FIG. 2A. Again, FIG. 2C illustrates thatthe housing 212 includes a first half 211 and a second half 213. Theopenings 214 for the touch panel 220 and the display 200 are in thesecond half 213 of the housing 212. The control buttons 228 are also inthe second half 213 of the housing 212. The first half 211 of thehousing 212 includes a splash proof data card door 250. The splash proofdata card door 250 seals with respect to the housing 212. The splashproof data card door 250 covers a slot for receiving a data card, suchas compact flash, smart media, secure digital, or any other data source.The data card is used to store instruction sets for the electronicswithin the interior of the housing 212. The data card slot (not shown)is covered by the data card door 250 to prevent a leakage path to theinterior of the housing 212. That is, the splash proof data card door250 is sealed with respect to the first half 211 of the housing 212 tokeep the hand-held, electronic device 210 waterproof.

FIG. 2D illustrates an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of ahand-held, electronic device 210 shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. The isometricview of the hand-held, electronic device 210 shows the positioning ofthe power switch 240, the splash proof data card door 250, the controlbuttons 228, the touch panel 220, the IRDA port 235 and the plate 230.It should be noted that the position of these various components canshift and still be within the scope of this invention.

FIGS. 3-9 are provided as illustrative examples of hardware embodimentsfor a portable, hand-held, electronic device that includes anavigational device according to the teachings of the present invention.It should be appreciated that other suitable designs for a hardwaredevice would also be within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view along line 3—3 in FIG. 2 ofthe hand-held electronic device 310. The portable hand-held electronicdevice 310 includes a housing 312 having an opening 314 in a second half313 of the housing 312. The hand-held device has a touch panel 320 whichis mounted and viewable through the opening 314. The touch panel 320 istransparent. The device 310 includes a display 300 mounted within thehousing 312 and viewable through the touch panel 320. The housing alsoincludes a patch antenna 316 which is positioned therein. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 3, the patch antenna 316 is positioned along atop surface of the display 300. That is, the patch antenna 316 ispositioned so that it is substantially horizontal with the plane of theearth when mounted within a vehicle using a plate 330. As will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading thisdisclosure, the patch antenna 316 includes a GPS patch antenna 316(which is communicatively coupled to a GPS receiver as described furtherin connection with FIG. 12). Also included within the housing 312 is aninternal rate gyro 390 or other suitable dead-reckoning component. Theinternal rate gyro 390, or other suitable dead reckoning componentsupplements and/or complements GPS positioning service provided throughuse of the GPS patch antenna 316 when GPS satellite signals aredegraded, interrupted, or otherwise obstructed.

Along the edge of the opening 314 is a mounting apparatus 340. Themounting apparatus 340 circumscribes the edge of the opening 314. Themounting apparatus 340 includes a first pocket 341 and a second pocket342. The two pockets 341 and 342 form a first leg 344 and a second leg345 which extend away from the front face or top of the housing 312 andspecifically made integral with the second half 313 of the housing 312.The mounting apparatus 340 is molded with the rest of the housing 312 ormade integral with the rest of the housing 312. The mounting apparatusis used to make a watertight seal around the touch panel 320. Themounting apparatus can also be used to provide a shock mount for thetouch panel 320. The shock mount will be further detailed in FIGS. 7 and8. The waterproof aspects of the mounting apparatus 340 will be furtherdetailed in FIGS. 7-10.

Also included within the housing 312 is a backing bracket or backingplate 350. The backing bracket or backing plate 350 is mounted to thesecond half 313 of the housing 312 and is positioned near the edge ofthe touch panel 320. The backing plate has an opening 352 therein sothat the backing plate 350 essentially forms a frame around the edge ofthe touch panel 320 to support the edge of the touch panel 320. Thebacking plate 350 is typically made of sheet metal, although it shouldbe noted that other materials can be used in order to form the backingplate 350. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the backing bracket orbacking plate 350 fastens the touch panel 320 to a second half 313 ofthe housing 312.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view along line 44 in FIG. 2 of thehand-held electronic device 410. More specifically, FIG. 4 shows a crosssectional view of a second half 413 of the housing 412. FIG. 4illustrates more clearly the mounting of the touch panel 420. A completefirst half 411 of the housing 412 is not shown in FIG. 4 for the sake ofclarity. The hand-held electronic device 410 includes the second half413 of the housing 412 that has an opening 414 therein. The portableelectronic hand-held device 410 also includes a touch panel 420. Amounting device or mounting apparatus 440 circumscribes the opening 414and is used to mount the touch panel 420 within the opening 414 of thehousing 412 so that it is viewable through the opening 414 while beingwaterproof. In some embodiments, the backing bracket or backing plate450 fastens to the second half 413 of the housing 412. In someembodiments, the mounting apparatus 440 can include a shock mountportion. Situated near an interior major surface of the touch panel 420is a backing plate 450. The backing bracket or backing plate 450 istypically made of sheet metal and includes an opening 452 therein. Thebacking bracket or backing plate frames the touch panel 420 on theinterior side of one of the major surfaces of the touch panel 420. Thebacking bracket or backing plate 450 frames the touch panel 420 alongthe periphery of the touch panel 420 and provides support around theedges of the touch panel. The backing bracket or backing plate 450 ismounted to the second half 413 of the housing 412 via fasteners 415. Inone embodiment, the fasteners include screws, or other suitablefasteners or the like. Also included within the housing 412 is a patchantenna. Although the patch antenna is not visible in FIG. 4, the patchantenna is operatively coupled to a printed circuit board which includesa microprocessor and a memory. Computer-executable instruction sets maybe stored within the memory. The instruction set is used by themicroprocessor to perform various calculations including routecalculations. The patch antenna is operatively coupled to themicroprocessor and the memory (as described in greater detail inconnection with FIG. 12) so that the patch antenna can acquire signalsfrom GPS satellites or other positioning signals, such as RF signals andthe like, to determine the location of the hand-held, portableelectronic device 410. It is noted here, that as discussed further inFIGS. 11 and 12 below, the electronic components of the presentinvention include a cellular transceiver and/or additional transceiveroperable to wireless transmit and receive signals.

The patch antenna, cellular transceiver, and/or additional transceivercan also be used to receive all or a portion of the above describedcomputer executable instruction sets from a remote server or othercommunication device. In other words, in some embodiments theinstruction set can be housed within the onboard microprocessor andonboard memory, and in other applications, some or all of theinstruction sets may be forwarded to the onboard microprocessor andonboard memory. Further details are discussed with respect to FIG. 13.

FIG. 5 is a front cutaway view of the hand-held, electronic device 510as shown in FIGS. 2-4. The portable, hand-held electronic deviceincludes a housing 512. Attached to the housing 512 is the backingbracket or backing plate 550. The backing bracket has an opening therein552. The backing bracket 550 is attached to the housing using fasteners515. Also located within the housing is a patch antenna 516.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a typical touch panel 620 of thehand-held, electronic device. The touch panel 620 includes a thin,flexible film 622 which is positioned near a layer of rigid material624. The thin film 622 and the rigid material 624 each have a layer ofconductive material 630, 632, respectively, such as indium, tin, oxideprinted on a major surface. When thin film 622 is deflected, theconductive material 632 touches the conductive material 630 to create aclosed circuit. It should be noted that the touch panel 620 is notlimited to the type of conductive film placed on the thin, flexible film622 or the rigid material 624. A touch panel with any type of conductivefilm is contemplated by the invention. The layer of rigid material 624is typically more rigid than the housing 212, 312, 412, 512 of theportable electronic device 210, 310, 410, 510. The thin, flexible film622 is attached to the rigid backing layer 624 by an adhesive gasket626. The adhesive gasket 626 keeps the thin, flexible film 622 separatedfrom the rigid backing 624 of the touch panel 620. The rigid backing canbe made of plastic or glass. Other materials can also be used. Glassseems to be the most commonly used rigid material 624. Therefore, therigid material 624 needs to be shock-mounted with respect to the housing212, 312, 412, 512, so that the portable, electronic, hand-held device210, 310, 410, 510 is more rugged. The touch panel 220, 320, 420, 520,720, 820, 920 shown in FIGS. 2-5, as well as in FIGS. 7-9, each have asimilar structure as shown in FIG. 6. However for the sake of simplicitythe touch panel 220, 320, 420, 520, 720, 820, 920, is merely shown asone solid block of material in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9. It shouldbe noted, however, that even though the touch panel is shown as a solidblock of material, it is actually a rigid backing 624 with a thin,flexible film 622 held away from the rigid backing by the adhesivegasket 626. By applying pressure to the touch panel with either afingertip or a stylus, inputs and commands can be made to the portableelectronic device. As mentioned previously, a major surface of the rigidmaterial and a major surface of the flexible material are provided withan electrically conductive film so that when the flexible material isdeflected to touch the rigid material a closed circuit indicating thelocation of the contact is formed.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the housing near theopening which details one embodiment for mounting the touch panel 720with respect to the housing 712. The housing 712 includes the mountingapparatus 740. The mounting apparatus 740 includes a first pocket 741and a second pocket 742. The mounting apparatus 740 includes a first leg744 and a second leg 745. As shown in FIG. 7, the touch panel 720 isshock-mounted using a first viscoelastic shock mount member 760 and asecond viscoelastic shock member 762. The first viscoelastic shockmember 760 is sandwiched between an edge of the touch panel 720 and aportion of the first leg 744 and a portion of the second leg 745. Asshown in FIG. 7, the bottom portion of the second leg 745 of themounting apparatus is entirely covered to sandwich the firstviscoelastic member 760 between the two legs 744, 745 of the mountingapparatus and the edge of the display 720. The second viscoelasticmember 762 is sandwiched between the backing member 750 and the edge ofthe touch panel 720. The viscoelastic members 760, 762 can be made froma variety of materials, including foam tape which may have an adhesivebacking. The viscoelastic elements or members 760, 762 can extend allthe way around the periphery of the touch panel 720. It is notnecessary, however, to have the viscoelastic members 760, 762 extend allthe way around the periphery of the touch panel 720 in order to obtainan adequate shock mount to increase the drop resistance of the portable,hand-held, electronic device 210, 310, 410, 510.

Within the pocket 741 is a flexible adhesive 770. The flexible adhesive770 fills the pocket 741 and can cover a portion of a major surface 721of the touch panel and covers an edge 722 of the touch panel 720. Theflexible adhesive 770 provides a moisture barrier which preventsmoisture from passing from the exterior portion of the touch panel 720to the interior of the housing 712. The flexible adhesive also serves asa shock mount. During a drop or other shock event, the flexible adhesive770 flexes and cradles the edge of the touch panel 720. The flexibleadhesive 770 is typically silicon and preferably is a room-temperaturevulcanization (“RTV”) silicon. It is important that the adhesive fillthe entire pocket 741 around the whole periphery of the touch panel 720and about the periphery of the mounting apparatus 740 near the opening714 in the housing 712. In other words, the flexible adhesive 770provides a moisture barrier around the entire edge of the touch panel720 to prevent a leakage path from forming between the exterior surfaceof the touch panel 720 and the interior of the housing 712. Thus, themounting apparatus 740 shown in FIG. 7 includes a flexible adhesive 770which wraps around a portion of the major surface 721 of the display aswell as the edge 722 of the touch panel 720. This flexible adhesive 770goes around the entire periphery of the display and provides a moisturebarrier to prevent leakage paths between the exterior surface of thetouch panel 720 and the exterior of the housing 712 and the interior ofthe housing 712. The flexible adhesive 770 also acts as a shock mount,since the flexible adhesive flexes during a shock event or a drop. Inaddition, the mounting apparatus 740 includes a first viscoelastic pad760 and a second viscoelastic pad 762. These can also ring the entirecircumference or outer perimeter of the touch panel 720. It should benoted that the viscoelastic elements 760, 762 do not necessarily have togo all the way around the periphery of the display in order to beeffective as shock mounts.

The touch panel 720 is mounted between the mounting apparatus 740 andthe backing bracket 750. The touch panel 720 is transparent. Mountedwithin the housing 712 is display 700. The display 700 is viewable fromthe exterior of the housing 712 through the transparent touch panel 720.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the housing 812 nearthe opening 814 in the housing, which details another embodiment formounting the touch panel 820 with respect to the housing 812 in thehand-held, electronic device 810. Near the opening 814 is a mountingapparatus 840 which includes a first pocket 841 and a second pocket 842.The pockets 841 and 842 result in a first leg 844 and a second leg 845.The legs 844 and 845 contact a major surface 821 of the touch panel 820.The major surface 821 corresponds to the portion of the touch panel 820which is also exterior to the internal portion of the housing 812.Another major surface 823 faces the interior of the housing 812. Aviscoelastic member 862 is sandwiched between a major surface 823 of thetouch panel 820 and the backing bracket 850 which is mounted to theinterior of the touch panel 820. The viscoelastic member 862 serves as ashock mount since the touch panel 820 typically includes a fragile orrigid element, such as a glass layer. The pocket 841 is filled with aflexible adhesive 870. The adhesive 870 also serves a shock absorbingfunction. The adhesive 870 can cover a portion of the major surface 821of the touch panel 820 as well as the edge 822 of the touch panel 820.The flexible adhesive 870 is a silicon adhesive and produces a waterbarrier or moisture barrier between the interior of the housing 812 andthe exterior of the housing 812 and touch panel 820. Therefore, thepocket 841 of the mounting apparatus 840 extends all the way around theedge of the touch panel 820 to prevent any leakage path from theexterior of the housing 812 to the interior of the housing. Theviscoelastic member 862 may also extend completely around thecircumference of the touch panel 820, or it may pass around certainportions at the circumference of the touch panel 820. The viscoelasticmember 862, as well as the flexible adhesive 870, dampen any shock thatmay result from a drop or other shock event that may occur with respectto the housing 812 of the portable, band-held, electronic device 810.The viscoelastic layer 862 can be any sort of material including aflexible tape or a foam tape that has an adhesive backing. The flexibleadhesive 870 typically is a silicone and preferably, but not limited to,a RTV silicone, which vulcanizes at room temperature.

The touch panel 820 is mounted between the mounting apparatus 840 andthe backing bracket 850. The touch panel 820 is transparent. Mountedwithin the housing 812 is display 800. The display 800 is viewable fromthe exterior of the housing 812 through the transparent touch panel 820.

FIG. 9 shows yet another embodiment of the mounting apparatus formounting the touch panel 920 with respect to the housing 912 of thehand-held, electronic device 910. In this particular hand-held,electronic device 910 there is no backing member such as that shown inFIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8. In this particular instance, the mountingapparatus 940 includes a first pocket 941. There is no second pocket.Rather, the volume the mounting apparatus between a first leg 944 and asecond leg 945 is solid plastic. A rigid adhesive 971 is placed in thepocket 941. The area between and including first leg 944 and the secondleg 945 contact the major surface 921 of the touch panel 920 whichincludes an exterior portion. In this embodiment, this contact surfaceis maximized to evenly distribute any shock or force the touch panel 920may experience. The rigid adhesive 971 is placed in the pocket. Therigid adhesive contacts the outside edge 922 of the touch panel 920. Therigid adhesive is preferably UV-cured so that it can be cured duringmanufacture. The rigid adhesive 971 then grips or holds the touch panel920 by the portion contacting the major surface 921 and by the outsideedge 922 of the touch panel 920. In this particular embodiment, the ideais to rigidly hold the touch panel 920 in place so that if a shock eventshould occur, there is relatively little if any motion between the touchpanel 920 and the mounting apparatus 940 and the housing 912 of thehand-held, electronic, portable device 910. The rigid adhesive 971 whichis in the pocket 941 is continuous around the lip or outer edge of thetouch panel and provides a moisture barrier to prevent leakage from theexterior to the interior of the housing 910.

The touch panel 920 is mounted to the mounting apparatus 940. The touchpanel 920 is transparent. Mounted within the housing 912 is display 900.The display 900 is viewable from the exterior of the housing 912 throughthe transparent touch panel 920.

It should be noted that there may be additional moisture barriers put inplace in addition to any of the adhesive barriers that are shown inFIGS. 7, 8, and 9. For example, a gasket could be placed on either ofthe first legs 844, 944 so that the gasket is sandwiched between thefirst leg 844, 944 and the touch panel 820, 920. Similarly, a gasketcould be placed on the second leg 745, 845, 945 so that it is sandwichedbetween the bottom of the leg and the touch panel 720, 820, 920.

FIG. 10 is another embodiment of the mounting apparatus 1040 formounting the touch panel 1020 with respect to the housing 1012 of ahand-held electronic device 1010. In this particular hand-held,electronic device 1010, a C-shaped gasket 1090 wraps around threesurfaces of the edge of the touch panel 1020. The C-shaped gasket 1090wraps around the edge 1022 of the touch panel 1020 and also contacts aportion of the first major surface 1021 and a portion of the secondmajor surface 1023 of the touch panel 1020. The mounting apparatus 1040is essentially a solid piece of plastic having a pocket 1041 therein. Aportion of the C-shaped gasket 1090 fits within the pocket 1041 in themounting member 1040. A backing bracket 1050 is also provided. Thebacking bracket 1050 compresses the gasket 1090 in a first direction.The touch panel 1.020 is sized so that the gasket 1090 is alsocompressed in a second direction towards the housing 1012. In operation,no glue or adhesive is required to shock mount the touch panel 1020 andform a waterproof seal. The gasket 1090, when compressed by the outeredge 1022 of the touch panel 1020 and by the backing bracket 1050,provides both a shock mount and a water proof seal. The touch panel 1020is mounted between the mounting apparatus 1040 and the backing bracket1050. The touch panel 1020 is transparent. Mounted within the housing1012 is a display 1000. The display 1000 is viewable from the exteriorof the housing 1012 through the transparent touch panel 1020.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of one embodiment for the electroniccomponents within the hardware of FIGS. 2A-2D, such as within housing212 and utilized by the electronic navigational device. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 11, the electronic components include aprocessor 1110 which is connected to an input 1120, such as keypad,touch panel or infrared data acquisition port via line 1125. It will beunderstood that input 1120 can alternatively be a microphone forreceiving voice commands. Processor 1110 communicates with memory 1130via line 1135. Processor 1110 also communicates with display screen 1140via line 1145. An antenna/receiver 1150, such as a GPS antenna/receiveris connected to processor 1110 via line 1155 and is employable forproviding triangulation positioning functionality. It will be understoodthat the antenna and receiver, designated by reference numeral 1150, arecombined schematically for illustration, but that the antenna andreceiver may be separately located components, and that the antenna maybe a GPS patch antenna or a helical antenna. The electronic componentsof shown in FIG. 11 include a transceiver 1160 which is coupled to theprocessor 1110 via line 1165. The electronic components include IYOports 1170 connected to processor 1110 via line 1175. The I/O ports 1170can include but are not limited to serial, digital, discrete,optoelectrical, or other I/O ports. The electronic components furtherinclude at least one dead reckoning component 1180 operable to providedead reckoning positioning functionality to the device and connected tothe processor 1110 via line 1185. According to the teachings of thepresent invention, the at least one dead reckoning component 180includes, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a rate gyro asthe same are known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.Examples of such a dead reckoning positioning functionality include, butare not limited to, the dead reckoning positioning hardware andalgorithms as described in commonly assigned applications entitled,“Portable Navigation Device with Integrated GPS and Dead ReckoningCapabilities,” application Ser. No. 10/184,844 and “Systems and Methodswith Integrated GPS and Dead Reckoning Capabilities,” application Ser.No. 10/184,337, each of which is incorporated herein by specificreference. The invention, however, is not so limited. One of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate, upon reading this disclosure, thatother dead reckoning components suited to provide the advantages of thepresent invention are considered equally within the scope of the presentinvention. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand uponreading this disclosure, the dead reckoning functionality, according tothe teachings of the present invention, is adapted to supplement the GPSor triangulation positioning functionality when the GPS positioningfunctionality is interrupted, degraded, or otherwise unavailable.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of another embodiment for the electroniccomponents within the hardware of FIGS. 2A-2D according to the teachingsof the present invention. In this particular embodiment, the electronicscan include more than one function. One example of such amultifunctional device includes a device capable of a first functionwith global positioning and routing, and a second function, such askeeping addresses, calendars and files used for liking with anothercomputer. The second function or set of functions are commonlyassociated with a personal data assistant (“PDA”). It should be notedthat the second function could be a multitude of other functions and isnot limited to the functions commonly associated with a PDA. Forexample, the other function could be a cellular phone, or any otherportable electronic computing device. It should be noted that theelectronic device could also include more than two different functions.The electronic components shown in FIG. 12 include a processor 1236which is connected to the GPS antenna 1214 through GPS receiver 1238 vialine 1241. The processor 1236 interacts with an operating system (suchas PalmOS; Pocket PC) that runs selected software depending on theintended use of the electronics, such as software for driving a PDAfunctionality, cellular phone functionality, navigation functionality,or other hand held device application. Processor 1236 is coupled withmemory 1242 (such as RAM, ROM, flash, molecular memory and the like) vialine 1244, and power source 1246 for powering the electronic components.The processor 1236 communicates with a display, 1226 via data line 1248.

The electronic components further include several other input sourcesthat are connected to the processor 1236. That is, control buttons andthe touch panel 1228 are connected to processor 1236 via line 1251 and amap data cartridge 1233 inserted into cartridge bay 1232 is connectedvia line 1252. An I/O port 1254 is connected to the processor 1236 vialine 1256.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, a cellular antenna 1216 is connectedto a cellular transceiver 1258, which is connected to the processor 1236via line 1266. Processor 1236 is connected to the speaker/headphone jack1234 via line 1262. The multi-function electronic device may alsoinclude an additional transceiver 1260 (such as an infrared port, orBluetooth transceiver) coupled to the processor 1236. As one of ordinaryskill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure, theadditional transceiver can be used to transmit or “beam” informationfrom one electronic device to another electronic device. The same willbe explained in more detail below.

According to the teachings of the present invention, and as shown in theembodiments of FIGS. 11 and 12, the electronic components of the presentinvention include a memory, shown as 1242 in FIG. 12, which is adaptedto store and/or house a set of executable instructions, programs, and/orprogram modules. For ease of illustration, the memory will be discussedin reference to FIG. 12 where the memory 1242 is coupled to theprocessor 1236 via line 1244. The description, however, appliesanalogously to the memory 1130 in FIG. 11. As one of ordinary skill inthe art will appreciate, the memory 1242 is adapted to communicate withthe processor 1236. In the invention, the memory 1242 is further adaptedto store or house navigation related data and is adapted to house orstore software operable to perform routing algorithms. Examples of suchrouting algorithms include, but are not limited to, routing algorithmsas described in commonly assigned applications entitled; “Systems andMethods for a Navigational Device with Improved Route CalculationCapabilities,” application Ser. No. 10/028,057 now U.S. Pat. No.6,545,637, “Systems and Methods for a Navigational Device with ForcedLayer Switching Based on Memory Constraints,” application Ser. No.10/027,159, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,003 “Systems and Methods for aNavigational Device with Automated Next Turn Page,” application Ser. No.10/029,917, “Systems and Methods for a Navigational Device with VoiceGuidance,” application Ser. No. 10/029,732, and “Systems and Methods fora Navigational Device with Detour Routing Capabilities,” applicationSer. No. 10/028,343, each of which is incorporated herein in full byreference.

According to the teachings of the present invention, the navigationrelated data includes cartographic data. The cartographic data includesa number of locations and data indicative of thoroughfares of aplurality of types connecting certain ones of the locations. In oneembodiment, the navigation related data can include one or morecalculated routes between at one or more of the number of locations.Further, according to the teachings of the present invention, thesoftware stored or housed within memory 1242 includes software operableto perform one or more applications for navigation. As used herein,software operable to perform one or more applications for navigationincludes, but is not limited to, software operable to find points ofinterest. In one embodiment, the navigation related data includesnavigation data selected from the group of a number of waypoints, aplanned route, and points of interest. In one embodiment, the points ofinterest include points of interest selected from the group ofgeographical points of interest, entertainment venues, dining venues,historical points of interest, and lodging venues. In one embodiment,the navigation related data includes navigation data selected from thegroup of automobile navigation data, marine craft navigation data,pedestrian navigation data, and hiking navigation data.

In one embodiment, the device is GPS enabled. In this embodiment, thesoftware is operable to calculate an estimated time of arrival of thedevice to the a desired destination using an integrated GPS capabilityof the device.

According to the teachings of the present invention, and as shown in theembodiments of FIGS. 11 and 12, the electronic components of the presentinvention include a transceiver shown as 1260, which is coupled to theprocessor. For ease of illustration, the transceiver 1260 will bediscussed in reference to FIG. 12 where the transceiver 1260 is coupledto the processor 1236 via line 1261. The description, however, appliesanalogously to the electronic components shown in FIG. 11. As statedabove, the memory is adapted to store or house software. According tothe teachings of the present invention, software is provided whichincludes a set of executable instructions, programs, and or programmodules adapted to control transceiver 1260 such that the transceiver1260 can transmit and receive navigation data between a handheldelectronic device and an other portable and/or handheld device. Forexample, in one embodiment, the software includes a set of executableinstructions adapted to transmit and receive the navigation related datavia a commercial communications network.

One example of a commercial communications network includes an analogcellular network using plain old telephone service (POTS). Anotherexample of a commercial communications network to which the presentinvention is adapted includes a digital packet switched cellular networksuch as a personal communications service (PCS) network. As one ofordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure,the transceiver, 1160 and 1260 of the present invention is adapted totransmit and receive navigation related data via the Internet usingInternet Protocol (IP). Thus, the present invention includes a handheldelectronic device which is adapted to transmit and receive navigationrelated data over a wide area network (WAN) using any number orcombination of hardwired and/or wireless communication channels. Forinstance, the transceiver of the present invention is adapted totransmit and receive navigation related data using a wirelessapplication protocol (WAP). However, as one of ordinary skill in the ailwill understand upon reading and comprehending this disclosure, theinvention is not limited to single one or particular combination of WANcommunication channels or protocols. That is the transceiver can beinstructed to transmit and receive navigation related data in a 3GGSM/CDMA network, and other networks of the like.

Similarly, according to the teachings of the present invention, thetransceiver 1160 and 1260 is adapted to transmit and receive navigationrelated data over a local area network (LAN). In this embodiment, thetransceiver 1160 and 1260 are adapted to operate in a short rangenetwork and wirelessly transmit and receive the navigation related databetween a handheld electronic device and an other portable and/orhandheld electronic device using either infra-red signaling and/or aBluetooth signaling technology as the same are known and understood byone of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is not so limited. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, the electronic devices described herein include multipurposedevices, such as PDAs, cell phones and other intelligentappliances/apparel of the like, which can wirelessly transmit navigationrelated data from one such device to another. That is, in oneembodiment, according to the teachings of the present invention, thehandheld electronic device includes devices selected from the group ofcell phones, intelligent apparel, and PDAs. In one embodiment, the otherportable and/or handheld electronic device similarly includes devicesselected from the group of cell phones, intelligent apparel, and PDAs.

According to the teachings of the present invention, and as shown in theembodiments of FIGS. 11 and 12, the electronic components of the presentinvention include a dead reckoning component shown as 1280 which iscoupled to the processor 1110, 1230. For ease of illustration, the deadreckoning component 1180 and 1280 will be discussed in reference to FIG.12 where the dead reckoning component 1280 is coupled to the processor1236 via line 1281. The description, however, applies analogously to theelectronic components shown in FIG. 11. As stated above, the memory isadapted to store or house software. According to the teachings of thepresent invention, software is provided which includes a set ofexecutable instructions, programs, and or program modules adapted tocontrol the dead reckoning component 1280 such that the dead reckoningcomponent 1280 can be activated and provide navigation services to thedevice.

As identified herein, the present invention provides a portableelectronic device which includes both a triangulation positioning and adead reckoning positioning functionality. In one embodiment, thetriangulation positioning functionality includes a GPS functionality andthe dead reckoning functionality includes a rate gyro. Examples of sucha triangulation positioning and a dead reckoning positioningfunctionality include, but are not limited to, the triangulationpositioning and a dead reckoning positioning hardware and algorithms asdescribed in commonly assigned applications entitled; “PortableNavigation Device with Integrated GPS and Dead Reckoning Capabilities,”application Ser. No. 10/184,844 and “Systems and Methods with IntegratedGPS and Dead Reckoning Capabilities,” application Ser. No. 10/184,373,each of which has been incorporated herein by specific reference. Theinvention, however, is not so limited. In the invention, the processorof the device is adapted to operate on a set of computer executableinstructions to determine, or resolve, a position of the device when thetriangulation positioning service and/or signals are available. Theprocessor of the device further adapted to operate on the set ofcomputer executable instructions to determine, or resolve, a position ofthe device using the dead reckoning functionality to supplement and/orcomplement the triangulation positioning functionality when thetriangulation positioning functionality is interrupted, degraded, orotherwise unavailable. In this manner the present invention allows forthe device to continue processing and/or tracking a location or positionof the device when such triangulation positioning services areinterfered with such as in “urban canyons” or when the device isindoors. Similarly, device can thus continue navigating a route for thedevice as the same is described herein.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the device further includes an input suchas a touch panel, or touchscreen, in communication with the processor1236 and the memory 1242, e.g. touch panel portion 1228 in FIG. 12.According to the teachings of the present invention and as describedabove, a display 1248 is viewable through the touchscreen 1228 and issimilarly in communication with the processor 1236 and the memory 1242and operable for displaying cartographic data, a calculated route, and alocation of the device. The display is adapted to display all or part ofa “convergence” and/or a “solution.” As used herein, the termsconvergence and/or solution are intended to mean a complete pathprovided by the thoroughfares of a plurality of types connecting certainones of the number of locations in the cartographic data FIG. 13 is ablock diagram of an embodiment of a navigation system according to theteachings of the present invention. The navigation system includes aserver 1302. According to one embodiment, the server 1302 includes aprocessor 1304 operably coupled to memory 1306, and further includes atransmitter 1308 and a receiver 1310 to send and receive communicationsignals. The transmitter 1308 and receiver 1310 are selected or designedaccording to the communication requirements and the communicationtechnology used in the communication design for the navigation system.The functions of the transmitter 1308 and the receiver 1310 can becombined into a single transceiver.

The navigation system further includes a mass data storage 1312 coupledto the server 1302 via communication link 1314. The mass data storage1312 contains a store of navigation data. One of ordinary skill in theart will understand, upon reading and comprehending this disclosure,that the mass data storage 1312 can be separate device from the server1302 or can be incorporated into the server 1302.

The navigation system further includes a navigation device 1316 adaptedto communicate with the server 1302 through the communication channel1318. According to one embodiment, the navigation device 1316 includes aprocessor and memory, as previously shown and described with respect tothe block diagrams of FIGS. 11 and 12. Furthermore, the navigationdevice 1316 includes a transmitter 1320 and receiver 1322 to send andreceive communication signals through the communication channel 1318.The transmitter 1320 and receiver 1322 are selected or designedaccording to the communication requirements and the communicationtechnology used in the communication design for the navigation system.The functions of the transmitter 1320 and receiver 1322 can be combinedinto a single transceiver.

Software stored in the server memory 1306 provides instructions for theprocessor 1304 and allows the server 1302 to provide services to thenavigation device 1316. One service provided by the server 1302 involvesprocessing requests from the navigation device 1316 and transmittingnavigation data from the mass data storage 1312 to the navigation device1316. According to one embodiment, another service provided by theserver 1302 includes processing the navigation data using variousalgorithms for a desired application, and sending the results of thesecalculations to the navigation device 1316.

The communication channel 1318 is the propagating medium or path thatconnects the navigation device 1316 and the server 1302. According toone embodiment, both the server 1302 and the navigation device 1316include a transmitter for transmitting data through the communicationchannel and a receiver for receiving data that has been transmittedthrough the communication channel.

The communication channel 1318 is not limited to a particularcommunication technology. Additionally, the communication channel 1318is not limited to a single communication technology, that is, thechannel 1318 can include several communication links that use a varietyof technology. For example, according to various embodiments, thecommunication channel is adapted to provide a path for electrical,optical, and/or electromagnetic communications. As such, thecommunication channel includes, but is not limited to, one or acombination of the following: electrical circuits, electrical conductorssuch as wires and coaxial cables, fiber optic cables, converters,radio-frequency (RF) waveguides, the atmosphere, and empty space.Furthermore, according to various embodiments, the communication channelincludes intermediate devices such as routers, repeaters, buffers,transmitters, and receivers, for example.

In one embodiment, for example, the communication channel 1318 includestelephone and computer networks. Furthermore, in various embodiments,the communication channel 1316 is capable of accommodating wirelesscommunication such as radio frequency, microwave frequency and infraredcommunication, and the like. Additionally, according to variousembodiments, the communication channel 1316 accommodates satellitecommunication.

The communication signals transmitted through the communication channel1318 include such signals as may be required or desired for a givencommunication technology. For example, the signals can be adapted to beused in cellular communication technology, such as time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), codedivision multiple access (CDMA), global system for mobile communications(GSM), and the like. Both digital and analog signals can be transmittedthrough the communication channel 1318. According to variousembodiments, these signals are modulated, encrypted and/or compressedsignals as can be desirable for the communication technology.

The mass data storage includes sufficient memory for the desirednavigation application. Examples of mass data storage include magneticdata storage media such as hard drives, optical data storage media suchas CD ROMs, charge storing data storage media such as Flash memory, andmolecular memory. Moreover, as one skilled in the art will readilyappreciate the mass storage need not be a single device as a pluralityof storage devices can be logically associated to form a distributedmass storage device of the present invention.

According to one embodiment of the navigation system, the 1302 serverincludes a remote server accessed by the navigation device 1316 througha wireless channel. According to other embodiments of the navigationsystem, the server 1302 includes a network server located on a localarea network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), a virtual private network(VPN) and server farms.

According to another embodiment of the navigation system, the server1302 includes a personal computer such as a desktop or laptop computer.In one embodiment, the communication channel 1318 is a cable connectedbetween the personal computer and the navigation device. According toone embodiment, the communication channel 1318 is a wireless connectionbetween the personal computer and the navigation device 1316.

FIG. 13 presents yet another embodiment for a collective set ofelectronic components adapted to the present invention. As one ofordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure,the navigation system of FIG. 13 is adapted to the present invention ina manner distinguishable from that described and explained in detail inconnection with FIGS. 11 and 12.

The mass storage device 1312 connected to the server can include volumesmore cartographic and route data than that which is able to bemaintained on the navigational device 1316 itself. In this embodiment,the server 1302 processes the majority of a user's travel along theroute using a set of processing algorithms and the cartographic androute data stored in memory 1312 and can operate on signals, e.g. GPSsignals, originally received by the navigational device 1316. Similar tothe navigational device of FIGS. 2-12, the navigation device 1316 insystem 1300 is outfitted with a display 1324 and GPS capabilities 1326.

It should be noted that the electronic components of device shown inFIGS. 2-12 and components of the system 1300 shown in FIG. 13 can beembodied as computer hardware circuitry or as a computer-readableprogram, or a combination of both. In another embodiment, system 1300 isimplemented in an application service provider (ASP) system.

More specifically, in the computer-readable program embodiment, theprograms can be structured in an object-orientation using anobject-oriented language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++, and others, andthe programs can be structured in a procedural-orientation using aprocedural language such as C, PASCAL, and others. The softwarecomponents communicate in any of a number of means that are well-knownto those skilled in the art, such as application program interfaces(A.P.I.) or interprocess communication techniques such as remoteprocedure call (R.P.C.), common object request broker architecture(CORBA), Component Object Model (COM), Distributed Component ObjectModel (DCOM), Distributed System Object Model (DSOM) and Remote MethodInvocation (RMI).

Of course it is readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that anyprogramming methodology, programming language, programming interface,operating system, or computing environment, now known or hereafterdeveloped can be readily deployed, without departing from the tenets ofthe present invention and all such implementation specific embodimentsare intended to fall within the broad scope of the present invention.

CONCLUSION

In summary, disclosed is a hand-held portable electronic deviceincluding a housing, a processor located within the housing, a memory incommunication with the processor, and a display in communication withthe processor. The display is positioned near the surface of thehousing. A touch panel is placed over the display and is mounted to anopening within the housing. The touch panel is in communication with theprocessor and positioned on a surface of the housing. The electronicdevice can include a component for performing a first function, and acomponent for performing a second function.

At least one of the first and the second components includes one or moresub-components adapted to perform a navigational function. In theinvention, the one or more sub-components include hardware and softwarefor performing a triangulation positioning functionality and a deadreckoning positioning functionality. In one embodiment, thetriangulation positioning functionality includes a GPS patch antennamounted in the housing above the display and communicatively coupled toa GPS receiver for providing GPS positioning service. Likewise, the deadreckoning positioning functionality can include a rate gyro. In thismanner, the dead reckoning positioning functionality is available tocomplement and/or supplement the GPS positioning in the event one ormore GPS satellite signals are degraded, obstructed, interfered with, orotherwise interrupted. The portable, hand-held, electronic device isalso capable of performing other navigational functions, such asperforming route calculations and finding points of interest.

The housing includes a flange around the opening which has a fluid sealto prevent fluid flow past the touch panel and into the housing. A shockmount may also be included within the housing to make the touch paneldrop-resistant.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the artthat any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose maybe substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application isintended to cover any adaptations or variations of the presentinvention. It is to be understood that the above description is intendedto be illustrative, and not restrictive. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill inthe art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the inventionincludes any other applications in which the above systems, devices,functional data, and methods are used. The scope of the invention shouldbe determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullscope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

1. A handheld electronic device, comprising: a housing having anopening; a touch panel mounted in the opening of the housing, the touchpanel and housing forming a substantially waterproof enclosure; aprocessor within the enclosure; a memory within the enclosure andconnected to the processor, the memory having navigation related data; anavigation component within the enclosure, the navigation componentadapted to determine a location of the device.
 2. The handheldelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the navigational componentincludes a GPS receiver.
 3. The handheld electronic device of claim 2,wherein the navigation component further includes a dead reckoningfunctionality.
 4. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein thedevice further includes a wireless communications component within thesubstantially waterproof enclosure.
 5. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 4, wherein the wireless communications component can transmitnavigation data of the handheld electronic device.
 6. The handheldelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the device further includes apersonal digital assistant (PDA) functionality within the substantiallywaterproof enclosure.
 7. A portable electronic device comprising: ahousing; a processor contained within the housing; a memory containedwithin the housing and connected to the processor, the memory havingnavigation related data; a touchscreen in communication with theprocessor for displaying the navigational related data, the touchscreenattached to the housing; and a dead-reckoning component within thehousing, the dead-reckoning component to locate a geographical positionof the portable electronic device.
 8. The portable electronic device ofclaim 7, wherein the device further includes a patch antenna within thehousing.
 9. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the patchantenna is located on a top surface of the display.
 10. The portableelectronic device of claim 7, further including a GPS component having aGPS patch antenna, a GPS receiver and a GPS positioning functionality.11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein thedead-reckoning component supplements the geographical positiondetermined by the GPS component.
 12. The portable electronic device ofclaim 7, wherein the memory further includes software adapted to performroute calculations to navigate to a desired location.
 13. The portableelectronic device of claim 7, wherein the touch panel and housing form asubstantially waterproof enclosure.
 14. The portable electronic deviceof claim 7, wherein the dead reckoning component includes a rate gyro.15. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the deadreckoning component includes a set of software instructions forproviding supplemental position information.
 16. The portable electronicdevice of claim 7, wherein the device further includes a wirelesscommunications component within the housing.
 17. The portable electronicdevice of claim 16, wherein the wireless communications component cantransmit navigation data of the portable electronic device.
 18. Ahandheld electronic device comprising: a housing having an opening; atouch panel display mounted in and viewable through the opening of thehousing, the touch panel display and housing forming a substantiallywaterproof enclosure; a processor within the enclosure, the processorconnected to the touch panel display; a memory contained within theenclosure and connected to the processor, the memory having navigationrelated data and a personal digital assistant (PDA) functionality; and anavigation component located within the enclosure to determine aposition of the device.
 19. The handheld electronic device of claim 18,wherein the navigation component further includes a GPS having a GPSpatch antenna, a GPS receiver and a GPS positioning functionality. 20.The handheld electronic device of claim 19, wherein the navigationcomponent further includes a dead reckoning functionality adapted tosupplement the GPS positioning functionality.
 21. The handheldelectronic device of claim 19, wherein the GPS patch antenna is locatedon a top surface of the display.
 22. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 18, wherein the memory includes navigation related data andsoftware adapted to perform route calculations on the processor.
 23. Thehandheld electronic device of claim 18, wherein the device furtherincludes a wireless communications component within the enclosure. 24.The handheld electronic device of claim 23, wherein the wirelesscommunications component can transmit navigation data of the handheldelectronic device.
 25. A handheld electronic device comprising: ahousing having an opening; a touch panel display mounted in and viewablethrough the opening of the housing, the touch panel display and housingforming a substantially waterproof enclosure; a processor within theenclosure, the processor connected to the touch panel display; a memorycontained within the enclosure and connected to the processor, thememory having navigation related data; a wireless communicationscomponent within the enclosure; and a navigation component locatedwithin the enclosure to determine a position of the device.
 26. Thehandheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the navigation componentfurther includes a GPS having a GPS patch antenna, a GPS receiver and aGPS positioning functionality.
 27. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 26, wherein the navigation component further includes a deadreckoning functionality adapted to supplement the GPS positioningfunctionality.
 28. The handheld electronic device of claim 26, whereinthe GPS patch antenna is located on a top surface of the touch paneldisplay.
 29. The handheld electronic device of claim 26, wherein thedevice further includes a rate gyro within the waterproof enclosure,wherein the rate gyro is adapted to supplement the GPS when the GPS isinterrupted, degraded, or otherwise unavailable.
 30. The handheldelectronic device of claim 25, wherein the touch panel display includesa layer of rigid material and a flexible substrate layer positioned nearthe layer of rigid material, and wherein the device further includes amounting member circumscribing the opening in the housing, the mountingmember including a pocket for holding an adhesive and applying theadhesive about a periphery of the touch panel display.
 31. The handheldelectronic device of claim 30, wherein the adhesive is a flexible,waterproof adhesive.
 32. The handheld electronic device of claim 25,wherein the memory is adapted to store navigation related data, thenavigation related data including cartographic data including a numberof locations and data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality oftypes connecting certain ones of the locations, and wherein the memoryfurther includes software adapted to perform route calculations on theprocessor.
 33. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein thewireless communication component can transmit navigation data of thehandheld electronic device.